Ex-NHS director receives £933,000 in ‘racial discrimination and
unfair dismissal’ case
9 January 2012
A former NHS divisional director has received £933,000 in
compensation for the racial discrimination and unfair dismissal at
the hands of Central Manchester University NHS Foundation
Trust.
Elliot Browne’s 34-year long career in the NHS came to end in
2008, following the trust’s ‘discriminatory treatment from 2007
onwards’, an employment tribunal has ruled.
Today (Monday, 9 January) Unite, Mr Browne’s union, called for
the trust ‘to tackle its culture of institutionalised racism’.
The tribunal awarded Mr Browne, aged 55, whose health was
‘severely affected’ by his treatment in the workplace, a total of
£933,115 for unfair dismissal, aggravated damages, and loss of
earnings and pension. He had already received £71,415 from the
trust.
Elliot Browne said: ‘It is scandalous that this kind of
behaviour and culture should exist in an organisation whose prime
purpose is to care for others.’
Unite’s head of health, Rachael Maskell said: ‘Unfortunately, the
case of Elliot Browne is not unique within the NHS. Discrimination
and harassment in the health service is all too common from our
experience as a trade union and needs to be rooted out.’
‘NHS employers need to establish comprehensive and effective
training programmes and human resources’ functions so that there
will be no repetition of this case. Dignity at work needs to be a
reality.’
Unite regional officer, Keith Hutson said: ‘This is a well
deserved outcome for Elliot Browne. It reflects the pain,
suffering and grief that he was put through by his employer,
Central Manchester University Hospital NHS Foundation
Trust.’
‘Hopefully this will act as a catalyst for his former employer
to face up to their obligations in tackling the culture of
institutionalised racism that they seem happy to endorse and that
is underpinned by a cavalier attitude in their management
style’.
‘The expenditure of almost a million pounds of taxpayers’ money
could have been avoided, if this employer had just followed its own
policies and procedures from the outset, instead of believing that
NHS funds are there to defend the indefensible, rather than deliver
patient care.’
‘The systematic intimidation and bullying of a single
individual, the like I have never seen in my career as a union
regional officer, was breathtaking and callous.’
-ends-
Note to news editors:
For further information, please contact Unite communications
officer, Shaun Noble on 07768 693940
Mr Browne will not be giving media interviews and asks that his
privacy is respected. However, Rachael Maskell is available for
interview on the general issues that this case has revealed
A copy of the ET judgement is available, on request.
